While we wait for results from Portland, we have this tidbit from just down the road in Greenville MS. Another of our 2009 top ten has made his first 2010 appearance on the BIS podium. The Puli, CH Cordmaker’s Field Of Dreams, was the Greenville Mississippi Kennel Club’s Best In Show today under judge Roger Hartinger.

We warned you earlier that the ten shows in Brooksville FL in the aggregate could dominate the larger shows held in Palm Springs & Portland. However, since no one dog has dominated that doggy decathalon up to now we still have a rankings race. Today that race took a dramatic turn.

CH J’Cobe Kemosabe Vigilante Justice

Kent Delaney called the BIS at today’s Clearwater Kennel Club, the ninth leg of the ten show marathon. The seven dogs with the stamina to last till now were the The German Wirehaired Pointer, CH Star K’s Mile Hi Valentine, the Afghan Hound, CH Genesis Silverado, the Doberman Pinscher, CH Phillmar Sobe Monster, winner of the two most recent of the prior eight shows, the Smooth Fox Terrier, CH J’Cobe Kemosabe Vigilante Justice, the Toy Manchester Terrier, CH Burmack’s Rosie V Evrmor, the Keeshond, CH Sprookje Lunar Appelation, and the Briard, CH déjà vu All Over Again.

Picking up the hat trick was the Smooth Fox, Dodger. Dodger, last year’s number five dog all breeds, used this cluster as the springboard for his 2009 campaign. He’s off to an even better start this year.

Friday, January 22, 2010

While top ten dogs are beginning to emerge in Oregon and Florida, we have another contender emerging today in Novi MI. The Shih Tzu, CH Hallmark Jolei Austin Powers picked up his second Best In Show of the year. Today’s win came under Mrs Houston (Toddie) Clark at the Livonia Kennel Club show.

We still have not been able to put our hands on a photo of this dog, but we did find out that he was BOB from the classes at the Shih Tzu Club of America’s May specialty. Look for our updated top ten on Wednesday.

It was the Irish Setter, Emily, grabbing the big prize. This puts Emily and handler Adam Bernardin in the number one spot all breeds. While that may change when we tabulate all the points from this weekend, we recommend they bask in the moment.

The Tampa Bay Kennel Club held their second show of the Florida-Free-For-All today in Brooksville, the eighth show of ten at the site this month.

CH J’Cobe Kemosabe Vigilante Justice

Alane Gomez had some newcomers and some returnees in her final ring. They were the English Cocker Spaniel, CH Itoba Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong, the Afghan Hound, CH Genesis Silverado, the Boxer, CH Winfall Brookwood Styled Dream, the Smooth Fox Terrier, CH J’Cobe Kemosabe Vigilante Justice, the Pug, CH Riversong’s Broadway Joe, the Standard Poodle, CH Dawin Spitfire, and the Bouvier des Flandres, CH Warwick’s Paint the Town Red.

He became one of our first DOGS2WATCH after a great performance in Florida in January of 2009, and today he picked up his second BIS in as many days. It was the third BIS this year for Dodge and handler Amy Booth We will be updating our rankings after this weekend’s numbers are in.

It was the Siberian, Pixie, winning BIS today. Although Pixie did win a BISS at the Delaware Valley Siberian Husky Club’s November specialty, we do think this is the three year old‘s first all breed BIS. Congratulations to breeders Dr & Mrs David Qualls, Patty Powell & Betty Mitchell, owners Dr David Qualls, Patty Powell, & Johanna DuWaldt Coutu, and handler Jessica Plourde.

Today’s Tualatin Kennel Club show is the first of the four all breed shows of the giant Rose City Classic cluster. This is likely to be the second largest weekend all year, surpassed only by Louisville KY’s March Madness.

Best In Show went to the Doberman, FiFi. Fifi , just 20 months old, is relatively new on the scene. Look for this girl to make a whole lot of noise. Congratulations to breeders/owners Joslyn and Kevin Mullins and handler Michelle Santana.

Best In Show went to Kimberly A Pastella-Calvacca’s breeder/owner handled MinPin, Major. Major finished 2009 as the number one MinPin with one all breed BIS & 32 Toy Group Firsts. Major was bred by Kim, Anthony Calvacca, Robin Greenslade & Howard Schwell, She co-owns Major with Linda & Richard Stark. Our congratulations to them all.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Our Florida marathon resumes Wednesday in Brooksville with the Manatee Kennel Club’s second offering of the set. The RVs will remain in the lot until through Sunday. Some of the Florida crowd have already left for Portland OR where they will kick it off tomorrow with an all Terrier event sponsored by the Terrier Association Of Oregon. We expect the fireworks to really start on Thursday when the Tualatin Kennel Club & the Dog Fanciers Association Of Oregon weigh in with four all breed shows. Make no mistake the Portland set will have a major impact on our 2010 race.

Ventura CA Coastline

Savvy competitors have plenty of options this week. They can choose from foursomes in chilly Novi MI offered by the Livonia & Oakland County Kennel Clubs or in wet, but warmer Ventura CA where the Simi Valley, San Fernando & Channel City Kennel Clubs will team with the Ventura County Dog Fanciers Association or in West Friendship MD where the Carroll & Annapolis Kennel Clubs will set up shop.

Moon Over Anchorage AK

The Packerland Kennel Club, Winnegamie Dog Club, & Oshkosh Kennel Club will offer three shows in Oshkosh WI and the Central Iowa Kennel Club, the Mississippi Kennel Club, & the Fort Bend Kennel Club will offer twofers in Des Moines IA, Greenville MS, & Rosenberg TX, respectively. The truly adventurous can try their luck in Anchorage AK with the Kenai &Alaska Kennel Clubs or in Ewa HI with the West Oahu Kennel Club.

We have a day off today before the Florida Marathon resumes tomorrow and the Portland OR shows begin on Thursday. We look for those two venues to narrow our crowded field of 2010 hopefuls going into February.

Today’s Best was the Boxer, Sherman. Sherman finished 2009 in the top ten working dogs with six all breed BIS and 38 Working Group top prizes. Congratulations to breeder Karen Deschambault, owners Cheryl & Keith Robbins, George & Barabra Adkins , & Dave & Jan Yenne, and handler Michael Shepherd.

Her Best In Show was our DOG2WATCH, the Wire Fox, Boo. Boo entered the 2009 race very late and still posted five all breed BIS & nine Terrier Group Firsts. Congratulations to breeder/owner Cara Campbell DVM, co-owners Mike Doleski, Cecelia Ruggles & Beth Dowd and handler Scott Sommer.

We’ve had a few stumbles over the weekend and although many of you may have missed our missteps, we do want to apologize to you all.

We get a lot of our most timely show reports from Moss Bow Foley (MBF). During the last week MBF’s website INFODOG has experienced some errors. We are not certain of the causes, but we do know they have been test driving a new system. When it is fully implemented it will provide us real time results which we are thrilled about. In the meantime, we have reported some incorrect results. In most cases, we have been able to get the correct results up within minutes, thanks to our ever vigilante readers.

All that being said, you may have noted that we gave you thirteen show reports over the weekend. Here’s what we missed. Just down the road from us is Starkville MS where the Golden Triangle Kennel Club Of Mississippi had two shows this weekend.

BIS went to the three year old Sealyham. Not as well known as some other Sealyhams these last two years, this boy still managed 13 Group placements in 2009. We do think this is his first all breed Best. Congratulations to breeder Margery Good and owner Valerie Teany.

Sunday, Joe Gregory saw the same finalists, save one the Afghan Hound, CH Landwehr Wildfire. His Best was the Bernese, Leo. Leo finished 2009 as the top scoring Bernese in all breed completion with one BIS and 16 Working Group Firsts. Congratulations to breeder/owner Mylene Turbide, co-breeder Natalie Ellis, and co-owner Dawn Hitchcock. Check back in a few we have more.

His BIS was the Golden, Vegas. Vegas & breeder/owner/handler Tonya Struble were the Best Bred By Exhibitor In Show at last month’s AKC/Eukanuba National Championship over some of the toughest competition all year. Vegas finished 2009 with four all breed BIS & 12 Sporting Group Firsts. Congratulations to Tonya & her co-breeders Mike & Suzzane Rapier and co-owners Mark Struble & Kelsey Dunn.

One of the best things about our ongoing Florida funfest is the opportunity to get to see so many great dogs in one place. Today it was the Tampa Bay Kennel Club and we got to see some dogs in the final we had not yet seen this week.

BIS went to 2009’s number one Afghan, Dylan. Dylan finished last year with six all breed Bests and 51 Hound Group top awards. Congratulations to breeders Lou Guerrero, Hank Nave & L Schanzle, owner John Shaw, and handler Marcelo Veras.

Today it was the Rhodesian, a local dog, picking up the BIS. We are not sure where this guy has been for the past two years, but it is a treat to see him here in the ring. Congratulations to breeder/owner Susan Rexford.

Joe C Walton couldn’t be in Brooksville FL to watch his Shih Tzu, CH Hallmark Joelei Austin Powers go BIS Saturday. He was busy judging BIS at the day one show of the Corpus Christi Kennel Club in Sinton TX .

His Best In Show was 2009’s number four dog all breeds, the Golden, Treasure. Treasure ended 2009 with 23 BIS and 89 Sporting Group Firsts. Congratulations to breeders/owners Jerome and Pamela Oxenberg co-owner Jane Bates, and handler Clint Livingston.

NUMBER EIGHT

NUMBER NINE

NUMBER TEN

SHOW INFO

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The author has been attending dog shows as a spectator and exhibitor for over 45 years. He is a retired management consultant who has advised multiple organizations affiliated with the AKC and the Cat Fanciers Association on business management, long range planning, customer service, and legislative matters. After 25 years of living in the big cities of New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC, he now resides in his hometown of Memphis, TN.

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